How Van Der Vaart will fit in at Tottenham?

Harry Redknapp managed to squeeze through the deadline-day deal just in time, and few would argue that at £8.7 million, Rafael Van Der Vaart was difficult to turn down.

Redknapp's tactics on the pitch might have been called into question on several occasions. No so, his transfer dealings. Transfer market moves for Peter Crouch, Younes Kabul and more recently William Gallas have proved to be particularly shrewd, as has luring Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane.

The general consensus among Tottenham fans is that the club sorely needed a striker, not another name to clog up a already bursting crop of talented midfielders.

But could Van Der Vaart nonetheless prove to be another stroke of Redknapp transfer market genius? Or will he just unnecessarily unbalance the Spurs squad?

How the Dutchman will fit in at White Hart Lane.

Playing strengths

Van Der Vaart is a creative player, who revels in the playmaker role just behind the strikers.

He is a highly skilled player, who can decide the game with a moment of genius. He can set up as well as score goals – finding the net 11 times in 68 games for Real Madrid and providing nine assists. He is also a free-kick specialist.

Most importantly for Redknapp, and in all probability a huge factor in his decision to snap up the Dutchman, is his versatility.

Van Der Vaart can play on the left wing if needed, and this flexibility could be priceless to Redknapp as he bids to challenge on the domestic and European fronts.

Playing weaknesses

Van Der Vaart is not physical player, and this shortcoming could be exposed more in the Premiership, rather than in the Champions league.

He doesn't have the strength or work ethic of other top attacking midfielders, and could get found out, particularly in the frenetic  Premier League.

He will certainly need to improve on the physical side to his game, or he will quickly lose the at-times fickle Spurs fans.

He lacks pace and is also very one footed - his reluctance to use his right foot is a major flaw in his game.

Essential experience

Van Der Vaart is seasoned international. He has scored 16 goals in 83 international caps  - not a bad return for a midfielder. He also has vital Champions League experience, something few Tottenham players can boast.

And in European competition, experience is not to be scoffed at, with naiveté so often proving to be the undoing of talented teams, particularly away from home (remember Manchester United's nightmare in Istanbul all those years ago?)

Tottenham nearly found this out the hard way at Young Boys Bern in the Champions League playoff. It was Spurs who looked like the boys, and they were lucky to avoid a hammering. Much of this was down to the midfield, which at times appeared clueless against their pressing and dynamic counterparts, and seemed to lack cohesion and positional sense.

Tottenham won't be so lucky in a tough Champions League group including Inter Milan , Werder Bremen and FC Twente Enschede , and an experienced head in the middle might just be what Spurs need.

Tactical compatibility

Redknapp has been renowned for rotating his midfield at Tottenham – and has so far just about managed to keep everyone happy. Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon appear to currently be sure starters on the flanks, and Redknapp will be reluctant to drop the stylish Hoddle-esque Tom Huddlestone after he was conspicuously absent for most of the first half in Switzerland.

With Luka Modric out until late October, on the face of things, the battling- but-careless-in-possession Wilson Palacois, Niko Kranjcar and now Van Der Vaart will be vying for that fourth midfield spot.

Nevertheless, this could be where Van Der Vaart's versatility comes into the equation.

Particularly in European away games, Redknapp may choose to play Van Der Vaart as a support striker, behind Jermain Defoe or Peter Crouch. The Dutchman could slot into the midfield when Spurs lose possession to ensure Redknapp's men aren't outnumbered there, and he could provide a vital link between the midfield and the front man when Tottenham have the ball.

In home games, Redknapp could choose to give Van Der Vaart a free role behind two strikers, and dispense with one of the midfielders– most likely Palacios. From there he would be difficult to pick up and could complete a dangerous attack, which could potentially be devastating when Bale and Lennon are surging forward.

On the other hand, Redknapp could choose to use Van Der Vaart on the left of midfield. This will push Bale to left-back, probably at the expense of Benoit Assou-Ekotto . And Van Der Vaart's tendency to cut inside could pull opponents out of position and free up space for Bale to work his magic.

Defensively though, this could leave the left a little exposed, and is something Redknapp is no doubt thinking about.

Modric's return could complicate things even further, as he is most similar to Van Der Vaart in terms of his primary and secondary playing positions.

Redknapp will have to use all his player juggling and man management skills to keep everyone happy.

However, in a grueling season with expected  injuries and suspensions, the midfield competition may prove to be a "good problem" for the Spurs boss.

Verdict

If Van Der Vaart introduces a bit of toughness to his game, he will prove to be a top acquisition for Spurs.

And the 27-year-old could be an outside bet for the Premiership's top scoring midfielder.

However, don’t be surprised if his arrival unsettles some Spurs players – notably Palacios and Kranjcar – and they start looking for January moves.

 

Real Madrid excited by the progress of Enzo Zidane. Guess whose son is that? =p

Real Madrid management are excited by the progress of 15 year-old Enzo Zidane.

Enzo is the son of Real legend Zinedine Zidane and has been promoted to the club's Cadete setup this season.

Like his Dad, Enzo wears the No10 and plays as an attacking midfielder.

Real GM Jorge Valdano said of Enzo: "The kid is just like his Dad in many ways ..."

Rooney texted Coleen to confess about his affair. He dare not to call?

England footie ace Wayne Rooney flew out to Switzerland today after begging wife Coleen to forgive him for romping with a £ 1,200 -a-night hooker.

The love rat joined his England colleagues on the morning flight from Luton Airport.

He knows he has a heavy price to pay after tearful calls to his wife yesterday over threesomes with Jenny Thompson, 21, when Coleen was pregnant.

Coleen, 24, stormed off to her mum's as shamed Roo, 24, told pals: "My life's in ruins. I'll do anything to make my marriage work."

And the cheating Manchester United star, who has been included in England's squad to face Switzerland tomorrow, has been branded an "utter disgrace" over his romps with the hooker - by his own family.

Coleen had backed her hubby after a string of earlier episodes.

But this time pals fear he has "pushed her over the edge" and she will launch multi-million-pound proceedings to end their two-year marriage.

Last night, a source close to the Rooneys said: "She's worried that this could be just the tip of the iceberg - and that more escort girls will come forward."

The star made a series of calls to Coleen, mum to his ten-month-old son Kai, and promised to get help for his fixation with prostitutes.

He told pals: "My life is in ruins. I will do anything to make my marriage work - and I mean anything."

Rooney was yesterday holed up in a hotel with the England squad before flying to Switzerland for tomorrow's Euro 2012 qualifier.

But England manager Fabio Capello has some concerns about his mental state.

Rooney joined a training session with team-mates but was smuggled past the media and fans.

Jenny - the Fourth vice girl with whom Rooney is known to have had sex - recalled how she repeatedly bedded him between June and September last year after first meeting him at a Manchester casino as he drank with team-mates.

The Rooneys' advisers yesterday insisted they were "not discussing" the bombshell revelations - but Rooney is now facing a monumental battle to save his marriage and lucrative advertising deals.

Humiliated Coleen was being comforted by her parents Tony and Colette at their home in Huyton, Liverpool, as she came to terms with her husband's betrayal. A source said: "She's so upset and doesn't know what to think.

"The last thing she wants is more and more women coming out of the woodwork like poor Cheryl Cole had to endure."

A friend, who did not want to be named, claimed Coleen learned the devastating news just the day before it hit the headlines - in a text from her man.

The pal said: "Coleen and Wayne were supposed to attend a family christening this weekend but they didn't show up.

"We found out Coleen had been getting her hair done on Saturday when Wayne texted her to break the news. He's a coward for hiding behind a text message, especially when they'd been together earlier that day."

Last night a security guard was posted outside Tony and Colette's home. He said: "The family are not speaking, please don't knock on the door." Another guard was deployed at Wayne and Coleen's £4million property in Prestbury.

Meanwhile hooker Jenny's relatives revealed she had vanished from the family's £400,000 detached home in Heaton, Bolton.

Her gran, who declined to be named but said she was housekeeping for Jenny's parents Hamish and Dana as they holidayed in Portugal, said the Rooney revelations had rocked the family.

She said: "When she was mixed up with him, her parents didn't want her to be involved with him. They were very angry. Then she said she had finished with him."

Jenny's younger brother Max said: "I have not seen her. She has not been here for a couple of months now - not to do with this, but to do with something else.

"I don't keep in contact with her. I don't even know if she's in Bolton. The last I heard she was in Spain. It's nothing to do with Rooney, she left way before that."

Last night another source close to the family said: "Her parents are very upset about this and Jenny has been crying non-stop. She feels like she's been disowned."

Wayne Rooney even invites hooker Jenny Thompson back to his home for sex!

Reckless Wayne Rooney sank to new depths the night he committed the ultimate sin for a married man-inviting vice girl Jenny Thompson back to his family home for sex.

Jenny, 21, exclusively told NOTW: "One night, well into our relationship, Wayne and I met up at the 235 Casino again.

"At the end of the evening, after we'd gone our separate ways, he started texting me. He wanted to know where I was and, when I told him I was on my way home, he texted back, 'Why don't you come back to mine?'

"I thought to myself, 'I can't do that. I can't go to his wife's house.' I mean that's just wrong, isn't it?"

Even the lure of a luxurious night at his plush £4.5m house in posh Prestbury, Cheshire, couldn't tempt Jenny. She insisted: "I told him: 'No, I can't!' But he kept begging and begging me, pleading, 'Please come! No one's in.'

"When I still refused, he eventually left it and didn't even want to talk to me anymore that night.

"But, as far as I'm concerned, paying a girl to have sex with you is one thing. Paying a girl to come back to your marital home when your pregnant missus is out is taking it a step too far.

"Especially when you know you could easily go somewhere else to get what you want.

"But to make that decision to do it in your house, I thought that was a bit much. You're really bringing your dirty washing home, aren't you?

There was absolutely no emotion shown or spared for Coleen there. Wayne didn't seem to feel too much about what he was doing to his wife. I really wrestled with my conscience several times."

It was 2008 when Wayne and childhood sweetheart Coleen wed at the 17th Century Palace of Villa Durazzo, Portofino-a bash believed to have cost a staggering £5million with OK! magazine paying half.

During his wedding speech Rooney told of his love for Coleen saying: "I've never believed in love at first sight but the first time I saw Coleen, I knew she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

"To have her sitting next to me as my wife is something words can't describe and I think today she looks absolutely amazing."

Visibly choked he then turned to his new wife and said: "Coleen, I love you more than words can say, you're my life and I love you."

But just a year later all that seemed a distant memory as he took up his dangerous liason with £1,200-a-time hooker Jenny.

At the time Coleen was talking publicly about how thrilled she was to be pregnant with first son Kai, now ten months old.

But as she was steadily building up the family's wholesome image-creating her own multi-million pound career with her magazine column, a show on ITV2, Coleen's Real Women, plus work with Asda and and exclusive watch and jewellery range with Argos-Wayne was doing dirty deals with vice girls.

Rooney, 24, was so careless in his pursuit of extra-marital sex he actually asked Jenny to join him on a Manchester United tour.

"He was texting me pleading for me to join him," she revealed. "He was saying that I should get a flight and stay at the hotel. He said if I paid for the flight he'd give me the money when I got there. I thought it was too risky going there, in a hotel with the rest of the team.

"I was surprised he suggested it. I said I couldn't make it. He said he'd see me when he got back."

"But Wayne never really spoke about football other than to mention that he'd been training.

"The only time he ever mentioned one of the other players was when we were at a party one night and he called Cristiano Ronaldo a 'w***er'.

"Wayne and I were standing in the smoking area when Ronaldo walked past, and Wayne muttered 'F***ing w***er' after him.

"Another time I commented to him how rude I thought Rio Ferdinand was-but Wayne just laughed and said, 'That's what Rio's like when he's had a bit to drink.'

"But to be honest, I don't think Wayne hangs out much with the other Man Utd players. I only ever really saw him out with his cousins or his brother."

And Jenny said even their sex got a bit samey. She said: "When I'd arrive at the hotel, I'd text him, 'On my way up.' I'd knock on his door and he'd quickly let me in. He was usually in the white fluffy hotel robe and would get straight on the bed and lie down. All he'd say was, 'Hi!' It was a bit embarrassing actually-seedy, in a way.

"I'd take all my clothes off, lie next to him and awkwardly say 'Hi!' back. And then we'd just get down to it.

"Wayne was really quite plain with his routine. He wanted straight sex with a little bit of 'naughty' thrown in-but not too naughty.

"But when we were apart Wayne would be full of what he wanted to do to me the next time we met. He'd often text asking me to bring sexy toys and telling me what he wanted to do with them. He was always quite explicit on his texts.

"When Wayne's had a drink, he's a scally and he'll suggest all sorts. But it was drunken talk because when I got there it was always the same.

"Whenever it came down to it- when we were face to face in the hotel room-he was quite different. He never talked dirty.

"And he never said, 'Don't go and tell anyone about us.' What he always said was, 'If this ever got out, it wouldn't be good.'

"But not once did he say:, 'It would be terrible for Coleen.'"

Once his son Kai was born, Rooney stopped using Jenny's services. But he was well aware of the risks he'd been running. Three years after he was exposed for visiting hookers as a teenager, 24-year-old Coleen wrote about her then boyfriend's cheating in her first book Welcome to My World.

Rooney had a threesome with hookers while Coleen was pregnant! Another love-rat among England footballers!

Wayne Rooney bedded pretty Jenny Thompson, 21, over several months.

Last night she told NOTW: "Wayne chased me with sex texts and paid in wads of cash. He didn't seem to care he was betraying Coleen."

The Cheating England ace begged Jenny, 21, and her pretty friend to fulfill his fantasy with a sordid THREESOME.

Then he summoned the vice girl back again and again - while trusting wife Coleen was expecting their son Kai.

Last night Jenny, 21, exclusively told the News of the World: "Wayne certainly enjoyed all our meetings and didn't seem to care what he was doing to his wife.

"I think he believes he's invincible and untouchable. As a woman, I wouldn't like that done to me - especially if I was pregnant."

In an interview that will shatter Rooney's carefully-nurtured family man image - which has helped earn the celebrity couple millions - Jenny revealed how the Manchester United star took astonishing risks as he:

·         BEDDED her at Manchester's top five-star hotel, a favourite with celebs and team-mates.

·         BEGGED her to join him on TOUR with the Premier League side.

·         FIXED for a pal to pay her cash when he ran short of readies.

·         ROMPED with her at a team party.

Jenny told how she first met Rooney, 24, in June last year at the Manchester 235 Casino where he was drinking with relatives and team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

"I was at the bar in the VIP area with another escort girl and they called us over for a chat," she said.

"We went for a smoke in the toilets with Wayne and his brother and exchanged phone numbers. At that point Wayne didn't know what sort of work I did."

But the star quickly made it plain what he was after. "He told me to meet him in a quiet corner of the casino and we had had a kiss for about three or four minutes," said Jenny.

"It was about 3am when my friend and I left and I started getting texts from Wayne as he was going home. He said, 'Do you fancy meeting up?'

"I said yes but told him it wouldn't be for free. He texted back saying, 'Fine, that's not a problem.' Then he asked if my friend would like to join us and she agreed."

A week later Rooney met the girls at the famed five-star Lowry hotel. "My friend and I made an effort," said Jenny.

"We both wore identical black lacy bra-and-brief sets specially bought from La Senza.

"Wayne told us he'd never had a threesome before. He was shy and awkward - and me and my friend were left to do all the work.

"He didn't want us to put on a lesbian sex show, he was more into two girls pleasuring him at the same time. But it was all over far too quickly."

"I asked Wayne if he'd ever been with vice girls before and then, all of a sudden, I remembered he HAD!

"I told him, 'I remember reading in the newspapers about you and the old granny!' Wayne just laughed. He thought that was really funny."

Rooney's earlier brush with scandal came in 2004 when he confessed to visiting a seedy massage parlour in a rundown area of Liverpool for £45-a-time sex, including a romp with a 48-year-old grandmother nicknamed Auld Slapper - the first time he was caught cheating on devastated childhood sweetheart Coleen.

Since then Rooney, who played for England on Friday night at Wembley, has crafted a brand of happy family life that's helped win big-money sponsorships and endorsements.

But the tawdry truth is just a year ago he was at it again.

After the threesome the second vice girl stayed out of the arrangement but Rooney kept up his liaisons with Jenny. It was two weeks later the pair met again at the Lowry.

Jenny, who normally charges between £150 and £200 an hour, headed straight to the star's room on the third floor.

"It was about 11am," she said. "The door was off the latch and I just walked in.

"He was on the bed, in his bathrobe with nothing underneath, ready for it. There was an iPod and a few clothes lying around. We went straight into it. It lasted for about half an hour."

Jenny also had sex with Rooney on a chaise longue next to the bed. "I did most of the work, and he was saying nice things about my body," she added. "He was trying to be filthy but he couldn't quite do it. He's quite shy. Five minutes after sex he said he wanted a smoke and got the guy from the desk downstairs to go and get them. He paid him £200 or something ridiculous like that for a packet of Marlboro.

"We were chatting but he didn't mention anything about Coleen and I didn't bring it up. The money was in his jeans pockets. He counted it and handed £1,200 to me in twenties and fifties. He said he'd enjoyed it and we'd have to meet up again.

"I never imagined Wayne Rooney would ever be one of my clients. I know a lot of people call him Shrek but he's actually not that ugly when you're sat in front of him."

Jenny said most of their meetings followed the same pattern. "Wayne had a few different mobile phones to contact me, all pay-as-you-go throw-aways," she added. "Wayne was actually quite boring in bed. We always had sex with a condom. I'd stay about 45 minutes with him in his hotel room.

"Then he'd pass me the money, the correct amount, all counted out, sometimes in an envelope, sometimes just a bundle. When he didn't have the money with him I'd pick it up later from a pal of his who worked in a designer clothes shop."

One night Jenny and her star punter met up again at the 235 Casino. Again they went to the toilets but this time it was business. "It wasn't full sex," said Jenny.

"It was me on him. I was in there for about 15 minutes. He was a bit drunk. He gave me a £1,000 gambling chip. I lost about £500 but took the rest home."

The next time Jenny saw Rooney was at a party in Rio Ferdinand's Rosso Italian restaurant.

"I went with a few girls and the whole team was there," recalled Jenny. "They were all very drunk.

"We hadn't arranged to meet but Wayne spotted me in the crowd. About half hour later he held my hand in front of everyone and led me away down these stairs.

Michael Owen was looking at him in disgust. Wayne made no effort to be discreet and I was embarrassed.

"Wayne took me downstairs into the cooking area and into an office. Again we didn't have full sex, I pleasured him. He couldn't say much because he was so drunk. He was sat on a chair.

"We were only down there for about 10 to 15 minutes. A few days later he texted saying he'd left some money at the clothes shop.

"I wasn't really that concerned but there was about £600 in an envelope marked 'Jenny'."